This past weekend, we reported that Toyota might finally unveil its long-awaited LFA successor after witnessing a billboard with a teaser that showed off close close-ups of the upcoming halo car, alongside a 2000GT and the LFA, at the Fuji Speedway. But instead, Monday’s presentation focused on a radical new four-seater Toyota Century coupe concept, a surprise all-electric Corolla concept, and a luxury minivan concept from Lexus. Having said that, there’s still good news, because we now have a firm date for Toyota’s upcoming halo performance car.
During the LIVE Stream, Chairman Akio Toyoda confirmed that the Gazoo Racing-branded supercar will make its global debut before the end of the year, with a public showing scheduled for the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon (Jan 9 – Jan 11). This will be the first supercar under Gazoo Racing, and the announcement ends months of speculation and confirms what enthusiasts have been waiting for: the company’s return to the supercar space.
We actually saw this prototype earlier this year when it ran up the hill, earlier this year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in camouflaged form. Its aggressive stance, sharp LED signature, and unmistakable V8 soundtrack gave us a strong preview of what’s coming.
However, some confusion about Toyota’s long-term performance car plans arose in August when Lexus unveiled the Sport Concept at The Quail during Monterey Car Week, bearing a strong resemblance to a model shown during Toyota’s mega concept reveal in 2021. That car sparked widespread speculation that it could be the long-rumored LFA successor, potentially badged as the Lexus LFR. Yet another prototype was also subsequently seen being benchmarked against an AMG-GT, this time in California.
Recent developments, however, suggest that Toyota and Lexus are pursuing separate paths altogether. While the Lexus Sport Concept likely previews an electrified grand tourer, the upcoming GR GT is shaping up to be a pure Gazoo Racing creation. Technical details remain unconfirmed at this point, but reports point to a front-engine 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 working with electric motors, given Toyota’s ongoing push for hybrid performance.
The upcoming flagship appears to be heavily influenced by the 2022 GR GT3 concept, a race-bred foundation that’s been spotted in both road-going and track-focused prototype forms. Shared design elements include the LED lighting signature, deep air intakes, while the racing variant features additional aero components, side exhausts, and extra lighting clusters.
For enthusiasts, the GR GT’s December reveal could mark the beginning of a new era for the Japanese automaker, one where Toyota is back in conversation when it comes to top-tier high-performance exotic cars.
Image Source: Toyota
